#climate change and food security in ethiopia

[seekergkfan]

ESSAY: Climate Change and Food Security

ESSAY: Climate Change and Food Security (Understanding the Link and Urgency for Action) OUTLINE: I. Introduction A. Explanation of climate change and food security B. Interlinkage between climate change and food security C. Importance and urgency of the topic D. Thesis statement “Climate change poses significant challenges to food security, affecting agricultural productivity, food availability,…

[mariacallous]

The United States made food security a top priority when it chaired the U.N. Security Council last month—and rightly so. Earth just experienced its hottest month in 120,000 years. Heat waves, droughts, and floods are killing off crops by the field full. Places such as Ethiopia, Afghanistan, and Haiti are gripped by worsening famine. In a blow to global food security, Russia recently backed out of the Black Sea grain deal that allowed Ukraine to export millions of tons every month. The geopolitics of nature have ushered in an era of unprecedented instability, and the worst is yet to come, with this year’s El Niño season predicted to persist through 2024.

To solve our mounting global food crisis, world leaders must look not only to the land, but to the waters as well—and to the often-forgotten and underappreciated source of vital nutrition known as blue foods.

The term “blue foods” is shorthand for food that comes from marine and freshwater ecosystems—from tunas, pollock, and cod to shrimp and seaweeds. Political attention and funding of blue food initiatives remain significantly underrepresented in national and global food discussions, despite the immense contribution that blue foods make to the health of people and economies around the world.

Blue foods support the livelihoods of more than 800 million people and remain among the most traded global commodities. Nearly half of humanity depends on the food group as a significant source of animal protein, vital micronutrients, and cultural identity.

Though producing some blue foods may have an inherently lower environmental footprint relative to cattle and other land-based livestock, there is not an endless supply. In our oceans alone, roughly 92 percent of our wild-caught fish comes from stocks that can’t handle additional fishing pressure or have already been overfished. The picture isn’t better for migratory freshwater fish, which have declined on average by 76 percent since 1970. With the demand for blue foods projected to nearly double by 2050, the math simply doesn’t add up to a stable future. Aquaculture, the farming of aquatic species, is an important part of the solution, but it can’t backfill the collapse of ocean fish populations or insulate the global economy from its consequences.

While resource conflicts are commonly thought of as a land-based challenge—for example, disputes over oil, minerals, or forestry—conflict over marine natural resources has always existed.

One study found that during the Cold War, 25 percent of military conflicts between democracies were over fisheries—and they have only been increasing ever since. Since the 1990s, more than 150 international fishery conflicts involving militaries have occurred, and five countries have been involved in 40 percent of them, with China and Russia leading the chart.

In China, the world’s largest fishing power, whose population consumes almost twice the global average of seafood per capita, the fisheries economy generates nearly $200 billion annually and employs millions of people. As such, fish are a strategic and critical resource for Beijing, and China has increasingly used legislative, economic, and military means to access and control the global supplies of seafood over the past 35 years. In the Horn of Africa, the past three decades have been rocked by more than 600 conflicts that have disrupted livelihoods, killed hundreds of people, and contributed to rampant piracy that has threatened maritime security.

Climate change will exacerbate all these trends. Warming waters are impacting fish reproduction and forcing species to migrate at unprecedented levels, creating newly fish-rich and fish-poor places. In the next seven years alone, 23 percent of fish stocks connected to territorial waters will move—including in waters near Canada, Britain, Norway, Iceland, and Japan. There will be winners and losers because of these shifts, spurring heightened competition for scarce resources that will intensify conflict between communities and countries.

When fish become harder to find, so too will peace and security. Small-scale fishery conflicts destabilize coastal communities, contributing to environments that foster greater crime, food insecurity, and poverty. Internationally, the risk of escalation from small, relatively innocuous conflicts on our oceans is growing, particularly in regions already grappling with maritime conflicts over borders and resources. Labor and human rights abuses are also pervasive in blue food value chains—half of all blue foods come from countries that the U.S. government has identified as having high risk of human trafficking.

We still have time to prevent the escalation of conflict and human rights violations, particularly when conservation and natural resource management offer the opportunity for cooperative engagement and protection of blue food resources.

First, climate science, oceans science, and political science can pinpoint where the greatest conflict pressures will emerge in the future—five to 10 to 30 years out. With access to this high-quality data, governments can deliver a new era of refined early warning systems and maritime security and conservation planning. This kind of information also makes it easier to prioritize and safeguard areas where crucial habitats, such as spawning and nursing grounds, contribute to a sustainable blue food supply.

To effectively manage and protect these areas, we must design inclusive conservation strategies that prioritize the needs and voices of coastal Indigenous peoples and local communities that are often on the front line of the climate crisis. These communities are the most vulnerable to changes in the environment and are highly dependent on seafood, with 15 times higher consumption per capita than non-Indigenous communities, on average. And case studies have shown that an inclusive approach can be beneficial to all. In Indonesia, for example, community involvement and equitable governance led to more fish in protected areas than in nonprotected areas.

Second, we need to improve local and global fishing practices through science-based fishery management that proactively plans for the impacts of climate change by strengthening oversight to bring about more sustainable and responsible fisheries. Fisheries that regulate the amount and location of fishing efforts depending on the present or projected health of fish stocks will be better placed to handle future threats. These practices must extend to small-scale fisheries, which contribute about 32 percent of overall global seafood nutrient supply.

Third, aquaculture of noncarnivorous species should be scaled up to supplement the increased demand on fisheries, as wild-caught fish are a finite resource. Currently, developing countries supply nearly all of aquaculture, making it a critical source of food and income for them. But because they are strapped for resources, environmental protection and regulation is often a lower priority. Thus, policies that support effective zoning and permitting in lakes, rivers, and coastal regions need to be reformed to ensure that production does not exceed the carrying capacity of these natural habitats.

Fourth, seafood businesses around the world have a critical role to play. Companies that sell imported blue foods—which constitute more than 80 percent of the seafood sold in America—need to be responsible for sourcing blue foods that are produced more sustainably and ethically. With their market leverage, seafood companies have the opportunity and responsibility to encourage better management of their source fisheries and aquaculture farms. This is especially critical for smaller island nations such as Kiribati and Tokelau, whose economies are both heavily dependent on seafood exports and are on course to lose fish stocks due to climate change.

Fifth, existing frameworks and agreements, including the U.N.’s Agreement on Port State Measures, which was the first binding international agreement to specifically target illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing, must be strengthened and modernized to address the shifting environmental realities facing blue foods. Additionally, the world’s major fishing powers, including the United States and China, should support sustainable fisheries in the global south by eliminating harmful subsidies; last year, they took a step in the right direction with the adoption of the World Trade Organization’s Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies.

Continued multilateral cooperation and support for area-based management—the effort toward protecting, conserving, and restoring ecosystems—has the potential to advance solutions as well. A strong example is the Eastern Tropical Pacific Marine Corridor, a regional initiative led by Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, and Panama, that aims to create an uninterrupted, sustainably managed biological corridor across more than 500,000 square kilometers (193,000 square miles).

Finally, we must catalyze robust partnerships across all sectors of society. Under U.S. President Joe Biden, the White House has convened private sector leaders around emerging challenges in strategic sectors, including semiconductors and artificial intelligence. The administration could similarly help rally U.S. and global seafood executives to source and supply the world with blue foods in a way that doesn’t squander the very resource that underwrites their business.

Blue foods aren’t a silver bullet—they’re a strategic commodity. When the bounty is plentiful, it can sustain hundreds of millions of livelihoods and billions of lives; when blue foods become scarce, it can drag communities, nations, and entire regions into violent conflict. The actions that the global community takes in the coming months and years will determine which path we take.

[spadesurvey]

Market Research Companies in Ethiopia, Africa

Table of Contents:

Market Research Company in Ethiopia

Top Market Research Companies in Ethiopia

How Spade Survey Works

Summary

Ethiopia, with a population of roughly 117 million in 2021, is Africa’s second most populous country after Nigeria. Despite its amazing 6.3% economic growth in 2020/21, Ethiopia is tackling income-related challenges, with the goal of reaching lower-middle income status by 2025.

Dryland agriculture is critical to Ethiopia’s geography, as the country faces enormous issues in food security, insecurity, and malnutrition. Approximately 20.4 million people currently require food assistance, including 4.5 million displaced persons. Ethiopian farm landscapes are diverse, with widely varying slope gradients and altitudinal ranges.

Market Research Company in Ethiopia:

In Ethiopia’s dynamic business climate, online market research is critical for generating insights that influence strategic decision-making. Understanding market trends, customer behaviour, and industry dynamics is critical for firms trying to flourish in Ethiopia’s rapidly growing economy.

Ethiopia’s market is expanding rapidly, driven by factors such as population growth, urbanisation, and increased consumer expenditure. This expansion creates both possibilities and problems, emphasising the importance of thorough market research in navigating and capitalising on changing market trends.

Ethiopia’s commercial landscape is diversifying across multiple industries, including agriculture, manufacturing, services, and technology. As the country implements economic reforms, businesses seek new opportunities, necessitating a thorough understanding of local market dynamics.

Ethiopia’s economic environment is characterised by rapid expansion, which is driven by investments in infrastructure, agriculture, and manufacturing. Understanding the macroeconomic forces that affect organisations is critical for making educated decisions.

Ethiopia’s main sectors include agriculture, textiles, and manufacturing, with a growing emphasis on technology and services. A detailed assessment of these industries is required for businesses looking to align their strategy with Ethiopia’s economic goals.

Below is a list of all market research companies in Ethiopia.

Top Market Research Companies in Ethiopia

1.QNR Data Ethiopia:

Regardless of how many countries you commission research in, you will have a single point of contact throughout your project, which means that all correspondence and status updates will be routed through one office in Johannesburg. A very experienced Senior Project Manager on the ground, ably supported by self-motivated field teams ready to start.

SURVEY2Go has the essential technologies to deliver fieldwork flawlessly, including interview GPS coordinates, silent recording, severe quality standards, and images of actual respondents and their homes if necessary. They have assembled field teams in the majority of countries where the economy is stable and there are no civil wars.

2.Spade Survey:

Spade survey specialises in data collection, online survey sampling advertising, healthcare research, providing high-quality market insights across a variety of industries. Their experience guarantees that clients receive clear and actionable insights.

Spade Survey focuses on developing solid business ties with its clients. They prioritise quality and cost-effectiveness in their data quality management services. They perform quality assurance prior to data collection and maintain stringent quality control throughout and after data collection.

We bring together a brilliant pool of extremely senior marketing insights and analytics professionals who are hands-on and lead client engagements as trusted partners. It has significant ties with clients in the FMCG, Banking & Finance, Telecom, Real Estate, Retail, and Government sectors, among others.

3.2 Visions:

2 Visions is an award-winning strategy, marketing, and research agency that helps direct-to-consumer (DTC) ecommerce brands expand by building in-house capabilities for long-term success.

2 Visions, founded by Yates Jarvis, who has worked with famous firms such as TGW, Ancient Nutrition, Express, Kay, DIFF Eyewear, Jeep, and Spanx, focusses on high-touch training and collaborative efforts to help brands avoid costly mistakes and develop profitable ecommerce strategies.

Our research enables customers to discover significant data-driven insights and create more effective product, brand, marketing, and customer experience strategies that are personalised to their target consumers.

4.Future Market Insights:

Future Market Insights provides detailed insights into the governing forces that drive market demand. It identifies prospects for market growth in several segments based on source, application, sales channel, and end use over the next ten years.

Future Market Insights (FMI) is a prominent provider of customised and syndicated market research reports in Ethiopia. We also provide end-to-end consulting services and have worked with 80% of Fortune 1000 organisations over the last six years. We are happy to provide research solutions to small and medium-sized businesses (SMEs).

FMI began operations in 2014 and has since evolved to become a trusted market research partner for clients throughout the world. FMI is headquartered in Delaware, USA, and presently operates from three global offices, including a delivery centre in India. The UK and UAE offices serve as points of contact for new business development and client interaction.

FMI employs over 300 market research consultants, each of whom is overseen by a research manager with at least ten years of relevant domain knowledge. This ensures that our clients receive trustworthy and dependable insights from a team that is on the pulse of the markets.

5.Cactus Ethiopia:

Cactus Ethiopia combines brilliant people, production capabilities, media buying, digital marketing, and exceptional creative to provide transformative results for our clients.

With over 20 years of expertise, we are the most firmly rooted advertising agency in the country, with unique knowledge of the Ethiopian media landscape.

Cactus is a well-rounded agency that covers all aspects of advertising, including creative, media, public relations and events, market research, and production. They are a passionate and imaginative advertising firm that provides clients with services such as creative, media, market research, and production.

How Spade Survey Works:

Spade Survey provides complete market research services in Ethiopia to help your business grow. Our tailored assessments offer significant insights into the Ethiopian market scenario. Improve your strategy with our accurate data and forecasts.

We specialise in offering comprehensive market research and strategic insights on a global basis. With a dedication to providing high-quality, actionable intelligence, our team navigates the complexity of varied global marketplaces.

Our bespoke solutions cover a wide range of sectors and geographies, providing unprecedented insight into global market dynamics. From market entry strategies to competitor analysis, our global perspective is critical to our clients’ success in today’s interconnected business environment.

We cover a wide range of industries in Ethiopia, including, but not limited to: agriculture and food, construction and infrastructure, textiles and apparel, FMCG and retail, healthcare and pharmaceuticals, and energy and resources. Our market research experts in Ethiopia combine economic experience with local market knowledge to provide a distinct view on the Ethiopian market.

Spade Survey’s data-driven insights lead your company to success in Ethiopia’s changing economy. We use advanced analytics and cutting-edge approaches to analyse global consumer behaviour, identify emerging trends, and allow businesses to make informed cross-border decisions. Partner with us for a thorough understanding of global market landscapes, allowing your company to survive and succeed in the global marketplace.

Summary:

In conclusion, the key takeaways from Spade survey role as the foremost market research company in Ethiopia are deep. The company’s dedication to accuracy, cultural sensitivity, and technological quality has established the benchmark for market research procedures in Ethiopia. Businesses that collaborate with the Spade survey receive access to a variety of insights that are both relevant to the local situation and connected with global best practices.

To understand the competition landscape and market potential in Ethiopia, extensive market research is required. Ethiopia is a competitive market that includes both domestic and international competitors. Businesses that perform thorough research can detect market gaps, understand consumer preferences, and devise strategies to acquire a competitive advantage.

Customised market research services in Ethiopia, such as those provided by Spade survey, are critical in assisting organisations in the survey obtain a competitive advantage. These services include a variety of fieldwork approaches and are adapted to the specific demands of each customer.

Businesses that invest in rigorous and insightful market research can make more informed decisions, build successful strategies, and remain competitive in Ethiopia’s changing market.

[geedkanabada]

What is ‘food resilience’? Ask these Ethiopian farmers facing conflict and drought

As the shadows lengthen over the village of Tuli Guleed in the Somali region of southern Ethiopia, Halemu Hassan Ali and her husband, Elias Abdi Abdullahi, move methodically through row after row of knee-high wheat. Pulling up weeds that encroach on their precious crop is physically demanding. Both of them hunch low but move swiftly, their easy chatter belies the seriousness of this task. For in Ethiopia, a country repeatedly wracked by hunger — where more than 20 million citizens rely on some form of food assistance — crop yields for the couple's family are more than a matter of mere metrics. They could ultimately mean the difference between life and death. Bolstering their homegrown food supply could both wean them from costly food assistance and strengthen their long-term economic well-being. For the past five years, the Somali region has endured a devastating series of droughts that have damaged crops and destroyed vast herds of livestock, a consequence of climate change that has been catastrophic for the handful of nations in the Horn of Africa. Added to that, almost a decade of violence among ethnic groups close to their village forced Halimu, Elias, their young children and most of their community to abandon their farms and fields and fend for themselves elsewhere. Today, the United Nations reports there are about 4.5 million internally displaced Ethiopians across the country’s nine national regions, with more than a million of them in the Somali region alone. “For the last nine years, we have been moving from one place to another, escaping the violence,” says Halemu, sitting in her home’s dirt courtyard as night begins to fall. “We could only farm our land in the last two years, when we finally settled down.” Halemu Hassan Ali speaks during a session on farming at her school in the village of Tuli Guleed. She and other farmers are deepening their agricultural skills to increase crop yields in the Somali region Tuli Guleed is a cluster of several hundred homes nestled in a wide shallow valley several hours from the nearest large city, and many farmers there are keen to wring as much sustenance from their small patch of land as possible. To do so, Halemu and Elias are focusing on improving their production with wheat alone, rather than the sorghum, maize and other crops they used to grow. This is not only to guarantee that they can provide enough food for their family to survive until the next harvest but also — they hope — to have a little extra to sell in a nearby market town. The cash would help rebuild a small measure of household wealth they lost in the past few years and provide a cushion against possible future drought or violence. Several days later, the pair took a break from their fields to participate in an internationally funded program held at the local school. Ethiopian agricultural experts spend several hours seeding best practices around drought-resilient crops, planting techniques, marketing tips and the use of basic pesticides that are now accessible at a discount from a small village store a short walk from Halemu’s fields. Strengthening 'food resilience' U.N. agencies and international nonprofits have spearheaded this kind of effort to protect against future food supply challenges — like drought or conflict — and strengthen what experts call “food resilience.” “It is part of increasing production and productivity, part of increasing their income and also food security,” says Sinshaw Alemu, a policy officer at the U.N.’s World Food Programme who has worked with residents of Tuli Guleed and dozens of other villages. “Trying to introduce technologies that enhance resilience and trying to build some of the key infrastructures in terms of market access so that incomes are diversified and these families have money in case the worst happens.” But he acknowledges that despite nationwide efforts to address these challenges, Ethiopia remains food insecure, with food production still a massive challenge. The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization in a recent report said that a “cascade of recurring shocks” means more than 21 million people in Ethiopia will require humanitarian help this year, including 13 million in need of agricultural assistance. Read the full article

[thxnews]

UK Pioneers Global Food Security Solutions

  Prime Minister Rishi Sunak to Announce Groundbreaking Initiative

In a major step toward addressing global food challenges, UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak is set to unveil a groundbreaking initiative at the Global Food Security Summit in London on Monday, November 20th. The initiative includes the launch of a new science centre dedicated to developing climate-resilient crops and combatting severe child malnutrition.   International Collaboration at the Heart of New Science Centre The newly announced science hub, led by CGIAR, a global research partnership uniting organizations focused on food security, aims to enhance global food systems' resilience in the face of climate change. This virtual center will foster collaboration between UK scientists and international research initiatives, focusing on the development of crops that can withstand climate change impacts and are more disease-resistant.  

UK's Long-Term Approach to Global Food Challenges

The unveiling of the International Development White Paper, also expected at the summit, outlines the UK's new long-term approach to global food challenges. Going beyond traditional aid measures, the White Paper emphasizes collaboration with countries to tackle extreme poverty and climate change, addressing the root causes of food insecurity.   Addressing Global Drivers of Food Insecurity The White Paper identifies climate change, conflict, the lingering effects of COVID-19, and Russia's invasion of Ukraine as the primary drivers of current food insecurity. Notably, the UK played a leading role in ensuring Ukraine's ability to continue agricultural exports, critical for global food security.  

Priorities Outlined in the White Paper

Prime Minister Sunak emphasizes the need to address unseen causes of global food insecurity. The White Paper's priorities include mobilizing international finance, reforming the international system, promoting innovation, and prioritizing women and girls, ensuring equal opportunities for all.   Innovative Partnerships to Combat Child Malnutrition International Development Minister Andrew Mitchell underscores the importance of combating child malnutrition. The UK, along with its partners, will launch the UK International Development White Paper, focusing on preventing and treating child wasting through innovative partnerships and financing.  

Tackling Malnutrition Globally

The UK, in collaboration with CGIAR, has contributed to the development of flood-tolerant rice, disease-resistant wheat, and nutrient-rich sweet potatoes. The UK is releasing up to £100 million in humanitarian funding to address food insecurity in countries like Ethiopia, Sudan, South Sudan, Afghanistan, and those affected by climate-related events.   UK Support for Child Nutrition Fund At the summit, Prime Minister Sunak announced increased support for the Child Nutrition Fund. This funding will scale up efforts in breastfeeding, infant feeding, healthcare, and monitoring to address and prevent severe child malnutrition. The UK's support will match the investments of severely affected countries, ensuring a more reliable supply of critical food for young children. As the Global Food Security Summit unfolds, the UK's commitment to long-term solutions for global food challenges takes center stage, marking a significant step toward a healthier, more secure, and prosperous world.   Sources: THX News, Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office, The Rt Hon Rishi Sunak MP, & The Rt Hon Andrew Mitchell MP. Read the full article

[soumyadipchatterjee007]

Can Groundwater Act as a Catalyst for Sustainable Development in Africa’s borderlands?

The Horn of Africa is facing a severe drought following the worst performing rains in 73 years and five successive failed rainy seasons. A sixth rainy season is forecast to also fail in April/May 2023. The frequency and severity of drought is increasing, making it harder for people to recover between shocks. The long-term outlook indicates continued drought risks for the region. The impact of the drought in the Horn of Africa has been severe: More than 36 million people are affected, with more than 20 million in the highest categories of food insecurity, with women and girls disproportionately affected by the direct and indirect impacts of the drought. The immediate challenges of the humanitarian crisis are the increasing numbers of people in need of food aid, shelter in refugee and Internally Displaced People (IDP) camps, and the imperatives of providing them with Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH), health, and education services while ensuring their protection.

The root cause of the crisis is a lack of access to water for communities and livestock. However, lack of water is an issue of limited access not water availability.

Reversing the impact of climate change on rainfall patterns in the Horn is not possible – future droughts due to limited rainfall are likely to happen. The Horn of Africa however has significant climate change adaptation potential to prevent the impact of future droughts.

A central adaptation opportunity is tapping into the vast groundwater potential of the Horn, with millions of kilometers of groundwater available. Access to water is essential for socio-economic development and livelihoods of communities across the arid and semi-arid regions of the Horn. Both pastoralists and farmers require better access to sustainable water sources if agricultural production is to be improved sufficiently to support likely population growth of both people and livestock. Groundwater access has the transformative potential for catalyzing sustainable development in the Horn. Learning from the 2015-2016 Horn of Africa response, it was noted that using groundwater and mechanized water transferal pipeline schemes are 50 times cheaper and then utilizing birkhas/rainfed/shallow water supplies that are supplemented by water trucking. 2

Communities in the Horn of Africa, particularly in its borderland regions, are off track to achieve SDG Goal 6: Clean Water and Sanitation.

Investing in Climate Resilient Ground water in the Horn of Africa

In the Horn of Africa, there are over 40 million people who live along border areas with little to no water infrastructure development. Women are specifically affected more by lack of water because they spend more hours looking for or fetching water. On the long term, securing their demand for water will require a shift on how water is harvested for livestock, farming and domestic use.

For development stakeholders in the Horn region, a focus on innovative groundwater investigation using radar and satellite technologies has proven to be ideal, timely and relevant. The efficacy of techniques such as the Three Phase Methodology (TPM) should be explored further in border areas.

There are numerous benefits of exploring and investing in pre-feasibility analysis and project pipeline development in Africa’s borderlands ground water; for example, groundwater can reinforce development, enhance resilience and is available in most border areas. In the face of drought, ground water is protected from evaporation and pollution as well.

This year, as the world marks the world water day, themed as accelerating change to solve the water and sanitation crisis; the UNDP Africa Borderlands Centre (ABC) will develop climate resilient groundwater for agro-pastoralism and domestic use in selected borderland locations in Kenya, Ethiopia, and Somalia. Groundwater identification techniques combined with water drilling/hydraulic solutions and nature based/ecological infrastructure are being developed for the domestic, agricultural, and small-scale industrial needs of the borderland’s communities.

In the Horn of Africa, potential of ground water is underestimated because it is not sufficiently mapped and categorized. In the recent past, large groundwater potential has been identified in Jesoma sandstone aquifer in Ethiopia with potential for 20,500,000 km3 of water and the Lotikibi Basin Aquifer with a potential of 200,000,000 km3 which is a lake the size of half of Belgium.

Innovative investments in physical infrastructure for ground water by the Inter-Governmental Authority on Development (IGAD) and Members states with support from the World Bank Groundwater for Climate Resilience (HoAGW4CR) special programme, UNDP Africa Borderlands Centre (ABC) and UNICEF Country teams can therefore generate immense incentives to compliment attainment of water security in the border areas of the Horn region. Work is already ongoing to expand access to groundwater that needs further scaling-up. For example, to provide climate resilient water solutions, the World Bank partnered with UNDP under the Groundwater for Resilient (GW4R) programme to identify groundwater potential and develop its access. The sustainability of the water source, the private sector to construct and the governance to operate and maintain these groundwater schemes is the focus.

Water as a Catalyst for Sustainable Development:

In early 2000’s, it was said that in sub-Saharan Africa, people would walk 3,000 meters to find water, yet the water was available 30 meters below their feet. In 2023, given the exacerbation of natural and human causes, people walk on average of 5,000 meters to find water. Yet the solution to water scarcity still lies 30 meters below their feet!

A 2021 flagship report by the Africa Borderlands Centre on agropastoralists in Africa Borderlands noted that the interdependence between water security and attainment of all SDG goals cannot be gainsaid. Groundwater is arguably the critical underlying resource in the Horn region for human survival and economic development. To realize the sustainable nature of ground water as a catalyst of development, ABC calls on partners to join the regional Groundwater Access Facility (GaFa) and jointly explore ground water in an efficient and cost-effective manner.

The catastrophic events of the drought in Horn of Africa exemplifies the need to develop ground water infrastructure. Groundwater can sustainably offset the imbalance created by dependency on surface water.

[twf2020]

Agro-biodiversity for food security in vulnerable landscapes: a case of Western Himalaya

The term biodiversity usually brings to mind a vivacious collage of animals in the backdrop of pristine wildernesses such as a courtship display by the birds of paradise in Papa New Guinea; the epic migration in the Serengeti; the boisterous howling of new world monkeys inhabiting Latin American rainforests; darting schools of iridescent fish in the Great Barrier Reefs and so on. However, most people are unaware of the role of agro-biodiversity.

Biodiversity doesn’t often bring to mind agricultural farms fielding an assortment of food crops, grains, vegetables, cereals and fruits. If it does, then you may pat yourself on the back because that is absolutely spot on! Variety amongst crops and vegetables also constitutes biodiversity and it plays a crucial role in sustaining farming livelihoods and supporting the food demands of the growing populace across the world.

Throughout history, the development of most food crops can be credited to ethnic communities who have carefully selected and cultivated diverse plant variants for consumption from wild plants over several generations. These wild plants have been gradually domesticated keeping in mind their suitability for cultivation across different soil types, climate patterns, nutritional benefits, and tastes.

Ethnobotanists studying the origin of crops have thus identified centres of agricultural diversity across the world namely, Central America; Latin America, mainly Ecuador, Peru and Chile; North Africa and the Mediterranean; Ethiopia and surrounding parts of East Africa; the Middle East; Eastern China; Southeast Asia; Penisular regions of the Indian subcontinent; and the Western Himalaya 1,2. These hotspots of agro-biodiversity have quite literally acted as gardens of Eden for humans to identify, isolate and breed cultivars of food crops throughout history.

Industrial Farming is reducing agro-biodiversity

However in the last century, to prioritize yield and generate surplus food to promote industrialization and rapid economic growth, food production systems have undergone a tremendous change towards intensive monocropping systems using genetically modified high-yielding varieties on large swathes of land that require capital-intensive inputs such as irrigation channels; mechanised tillage and harvesting; and fertiliser and pesticidal inputs.

This is reflected in the fact that although over 2,400 varieties of edible plants are known; about 20 or so dominate current agricultural land use and form the majority of human diet across the globe today 3. Such a tumultuous advancement in agricultural systems has been adopted throughout the world save for some remote regions such as the Western Ghats of India, the Satoyama landscapes in Japan, the Milpa cultivation systems in Mexico, traditional village systems in Eastern Europe and South-western China’s terrace landscapes 4. Here, traditional farming practices have remained the same or changed comparatively little over a long time.

Traditional agriculture in the Western Himalaya

Farming in the Western Himalaya too has been mostly shielded from such trends of agricultural modernization. This is because mountainous terrains are characterised by topographic constraints such as small landholdings, the unfeasibility of irrigational infrastructure, poor transport networks and lower soil productivity. Due to contiguous undulations, elevation changes rapidly over short aerial distances leading to greater variability in climate, edaphic profiles and the resultant vegetation.

Traditional farmers cultivating wheat and barley in Pithoragarh district, Uttarakhand.

Challenges of Mountainous Communities

Mountainous communities have long since adapted to these limitations by developing traditional agricultural systems and appropriate farming behaviours such as terrace/step cultivation of a diverse group of rain-fed, multipurpose, and native varieties aimed at sustenance-based livelihoods. Farmers here do not cultivate two or three crops aimed for commercial sale; rather they grow a diverse assortment of crops in mixed and inter-cropping systems.

This is due to poor access to markets which makes commerce difficult and so, farmers have to source different components of their diet from their farms directly. Another crucial adaptation is that they not only cultivate different native crops, but also diverse varieties of the same crop called landrace6.

Landraces are native varieties of a crop that have beneficial morphological and physiological traits such as crop height, inflorescence length, grain size, grain per inflorescence, maturation period, and taste. These landraces have been reared by the farmers through meticulous selective breeding of indigenous crops facilitated by proximity to their wild counterparts. They often have superior qualities such as resistance to disease; tolerance toward pests; resilience to environmental stresses; additional nutritional benefits; better taste; higher water use efficiency; and many more. They are also cultivated to be multipurpose such as supplementing fodder requirements for livestock in addition to providing grain.

https://open.spotify.com/episode/5xCrONxpCYs7c0jKk6RCZu?si=tBmVnPUKQx2E3DIINeo1OQ

The Agro-Biodiversity of the Western Himalayas

The Western Himalayan region is an agro-biodiversity hotspot and a vast diversity of crops are cultivated here, from standard cereals like wheat, rice, maize and barley; to pulses such as black gram, horse gram, lentil, black-eyes peas (no, it’s not just the name of a band); oilseeds such as sesame and mustard; pseudocereals such as amaranth, naked barley and buckwheat; an array of millets such as foxtail, barnyard, pearl and hog millets; and many more 7. This is in addition to numerous vegetables and fruits and one could go on listing them endlessly.

Even within crops, the diversity is bewildering from hundreds of landrace varieties amongst paddy (rice) alone! Similarly, there are dozens of landraces amongst wheat, finger millet, and maize recorded at present and there could be many more that have remained undocumented. The hundreds of varieties of paddy in the Western Himalayan region show diversity in land use such as variants suited to rain-fed or irrigated land.

Such variants could be of use in building climate-resilient varieties in water-stressed regions such as Marathwada in Central India. Variations amongst landraces also exist in scent, husk, kernel length, grain length, colour, and taste which could have important commercial implications. Some varieties also hold religious value being used as offerings while others have been bred by farmers to maximize fodder biomass by selecting varieties with longer shoots.

Variety is crucial

Similarly, there are paddy varieties with stalks containing high cellulose and protein but low lignin content to enrich the nutrient value and ease the digestibility of the dry stalk for use as fodder 7. Such adaptations are pivotal in a region where seasonal feed availability for livestock is limited and could alleviate such issues elsewhere.

Crop depredation by Rhesus macaques in Himalaya is a frequent source of conflict.

The Role of Millet Based Diets

The Himalayan region also has a rich history of traditional millet-based diets, both greater and small millets including foxtail, barnyard, hog and pearl millets. Millet crops cover a wider base of nutrition having relatively higher profiles of protein, Vitamin A, minerals, and fibre as compared to other cereals whilst also being resilient to climate variability as they have meagre water requirements 8.

They are more suited to organic farming and can give modest yet sustainable yields even during sustained dry periods or delayed rains. Their importance in addressing hidden hunger (micronutrient deficiency) amongst women and children has been greatly stressed by the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) 9. The above examples underline the significance of crop and landrace diversification as a crucial strategy to sustain food security and self-sufficiency in resource-limited regions, particularly in the context of climate-influenced yield unpredictability.

Reasons for concern and the way forward

Unfortunately, traditional agricultural systems both in the Himalaya and elsewhere in the world are on a decline. The influence of globalisation and the allure of cash income has permeated into these remote regions as well. Concerns regarding the rising popularity of cash crops loom as they seem to have a direct consequence on the decline in native crop diversity and landraces.

A shift towards cash crop cultivation comprising of monocropping of potato, soybean and high-yielding varieties of rice and wheat will gradually dilute traditional crop diversity and their landraces. Unlike modern varieties, seeds for traditional landraces are borne out of previous years’ produce. Therefore, years of successful cultivation of modern varieties contribute towards the permanent extinction of landraces as farmers no longer have access to their viable seeds and there is a dearth of markets catering to their preservation.

Unpredictable Climates prove chaotic

High-yielding varieties also render the farmers more vulnerable to climate risk as hybrid varieties are at the mercy of climate predictability such as the cyclical onset of rains. Asynchrony between farm activities and weather either due to prolonged drought, excessive rainfall or change in their temporality often proves catastrophic to harvest.

And since the initial investment is higher, the consequences of crop failure are more devastating. Monocropping trends also put farmers’ food security at risk since they now have to depend on markets to fulfil their nutritional requirements. Declining agrobiodiversity also endangers the vigour of the overall crop genetic pool and leaves them at risk of new pest and pathogen attacks i.e. if the base gene pool of a crop is limited then there are fewer genetic mutations possible in turn leading to fewer new varieties that could potentially harbour resistances and tolerances.

Traditional step farms are being abandoned as people lose interest in agriculture.

We at Think Wildlife Foundation recently launched our Livelihoods for Conservation project to provide alternative, sustainable livelihoods to the communities living with wildlife. This is with the aim to incentivize conservation while uplifting these communities economically. You can purchase merchandise from these communities here!

Written by: Rishabh Srikar

Originally published at https://thinkwildlifefoundation.com on June 5, 2023.

[hardynwa]

Insecurity, hunger, rights abuses undermine African countries – Report

The Amnesty International in its 2022 annual report on Monday, disclosed that insecurity, hunger, abuse of human rights undermine countries in Africa. The report titled “Amnesty International Report 2022/23: The State of the World’s Human Rights” revealed the effects of conflicts in many countries in Sub-Saharan Africa. It added that the rights of millions of people to food, health and adequate standard of living have been undermined in all the African continent. “Food insecurity worsened due to conflict and drought in several African countries, leaving many people facing acute hunger including in Angola, Burkina Faso, CAR, Chad, Kenya, Madagascar, Niger, Somalia, South Sudan and Sudan. “In Angola, food insecurity in the Cunene, Huíla and Namibe provinces was among the worst in the world and in some of these areas, adults and children resorted to eating stalks of grass to survive,” the report read. It also added that journalists, human rights defenders and political opposition are faced with repression in many Africa nations, noting that “double standards and inadequate responses to human rights abuses fuelled impunity and instability.” These countries include Cameroon, Ethiopia, Eswatini, Guinea, Mali, Mozambique, Senegal and Zimbabwe. “The deaths of scores of protesters were reported and attributed to excessive use of force by security forces in Nigeria, Chad, DRC, Guinea, Kenya, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Somalia and Sudan, among other countries.” AI also disclosed that recovery efforts from the coronavirus pandemic were largely delayed by conflicts, economic shocks arising from Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and extreme weather conditions exacerbated by climate change. “The Russian invasion of Ukraine interrupted wheat supplies that many African countries depend on. Rising fuel costs, another consequence of the war in Europe, caused considerable spikes in food prices which hit the most marginalised groups the hardest,” it added. Read the full article

[michellelynncangelosi]

What does Humanitarian Mean?

Humanitarianism's goal is to reduce suffering among people. There are several ways to accomplish this. Giving relief to those in need, avoiding and containing pandemics, and enhancing the well-being of people everywhere are a few approaches.

An international non-governmental organization called the International Rescue Committee (IRC) is committed to assisting people in overcoming emergencies and re-establishing their lives. It aids in making sure that people have access to food, shelter, and healthcare, as well as that community, remains safe and secure.

IRC works with local partners to assist victims of violence, conflict, and natural disasters in getting back on their feet. Additionally, the group works to raise kids' health and education standards. The IRC additionally offers immediate aid and ongoing assistance to refugees.

The International Rescue Committee has been a pioneer in reacting to crises worldwide since its founding in 1933. It is active in more than 40 nations, including the US.

A non-governmental organization called Oxfam aims to improve access to renewable energy, agriculture, sanitation, and health care for the poor and vulnerable. Additionally, it promotes fair commerce and more efficient international aid.

The work of Oxfam is founded on strategic alignment. Building a more interdependent network is the aim. By doing this, Oxfam can aid in the fight against poverty on a global scale.

The global projects of Oxfam are evaluated and analyzed in the organization's strategic plan. English, Spanish, and Arabic translations of this document are available.

Intense lobbying and advocacy groups are part of Oxfam. They collaborate with governments to encourage agricultural investment and open up domestic and international markets for underdeveloped nations. The causes of climate change, women's rights, and health care are all actively promoted by Oxfam.

A Christian humanitarian organization called World Vision aims to better the lives of families and children worldwide. It has 37,000 employees and operates in more than 90 nations.

The group offers initiatives that improve people's quality of life, such as emergency relief, community development, and child sponsorship. World Vision works to reduce poverty and bring about long-lasting change by focusing on the causes of suffering and poverty.

The group is renowned for responding quickly to crises and natural disasters. Midway through the 1980s, World Vision worked in north-central Ethiopia to turn a famine-stricken area into an agriculturally productive one.

In addition to assisting families, World Vision gives 2.3 million individuals access to clean water and sanitation. The group also deals with the fundamental causes of poverty, such as hunger and unjust policies that keep families and communities impoverished.

A set of rules that humanitarian organizations must follow are the principles of humanitarian action. These guidelines are intended to guarantee secure access to those who require it. They are founded on four main ideas.

Despite playing a crucial role, these ideas nonetheless face significant obstacles in their application. For instance, competing players like governments, funders, and local relief organizations often have various competing interests.

Therefore, to provide relief correctly, the concepts must be put into action. The ideals must, however, be upheld impartially at all times.

Humanitarian organizations must conduct themselves impartially at all times. This is accomplished by being impartial and concentrating on the needs of those they are helping. The UN Code of Conduct best illustrates this. More than 492 aid groups have endorsed this declaration's fundamental values of impartiality, neutrality, accountability, and transparency.

Over 126 million people require humanitarian aid as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic that has engulfed the world. Grave disparities across nations have also been brought to light. In addition to the virus's effects on health, numerous other factors increase the vulnerability of vulnerable groups.

The lack of adequate medical treatment is one of the most critical problems. Only 51% of health facilities in Syria and Yemen are entirely operational. This means that most patients are occupying beds already occupied by other patients. Moreover, there is not enough available equipment.

In addition, the pandemic has exacerbated food insecurity. There is a lack of clean water and sanitation facilities in many refugee camps, which leads to health problems. Some host governments have imposed restrictions on the movement and intake of refugees. These measures may prove to be life-threatening.

The European Union (EU) is a significant source of humanitarian intervention in migration flows. This includes direct assistance, such as providing emergency relief, and indirect aid, such as financing a country's capacity to monitor the legal status of migrants.

There are numerous reasons for migration, such as seeking protection from war, cyclone, or floods. However, some countries are driving the trend. For example, many African migrants are fleeing conflict or state repression. Some of the most significant migration outflows are in the poorest countries.

As a result, the European Union is putting pressure on development ministries to limit perceived incentives for migration. Among other things, the EU is trying to reduce the risks associated with cross-border smuggling. But other factors may keep policymakers from taking action.

[hindiurdunews]

UK Pledges $788Mln In Economic Support For African Countries - Foreign Office

UK Pledges $788Mln In Economic Support For African Countries – Foreign Office

MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik – 07th December, 2022) UK Foreign Secretary James Cleverly will announce the allocation of 650 million Pounds ($788 million) by the United Kingdom to the Africa Development Fund (ADF) to strengthen food security and fight climate change in the poorest African countries, the Foreign Office said on Wednesday. Cleverly is on a visit to Kenya and Ethiopia from…

[spito]

UK Pledges $788Mln In Economic Support For African Countries - Foreign Office

UK Pledges $788Mln In Economic Support For African Countries – Foreign Office

MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik – 07th December, 2022) UK Foreign Secretary James Cleverly will announce the allocation of 650 million Pounds ($788 million) by the United Kingdom to the Africa Development Fund (ADF) to strengthen food security and fight climate change in the poorest African countries, the Foreign Office said on Wednesday. Cleverly is on a visit to Kenya and Ethiopia from…

[maasaimarauniversity-blog]

Maasai Mara University team held a collaborative meeting with a team from University of Maryland, USA.  Maasai Mara University team was led by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor Academic and Student Affairs (A&SA), Prof. Bulitia Godrick Mathews and Acting Deputy Administration, Finance and Strategy (A&FS),  Prof. James Nampushi.

The team from University of Maryland was led by Prof. Craig Beyrouty, the Dean , Prof. William Bowerman –Department Chair and Prof. Jennifer Mullinax- Professor of Ecology.  

Prof. Craig gave a background and history of the University of Maryland. He summarised the key programmes offered, five strategic initiatives and the areas of focus of the University.  University of Maryland promised to strengthen the East Africa connection with current focus in Kenya and Ethiopia.

Candid discussions on possible areas of collaborations and partnerships on areas of mutual benefit tackled; food security including agriculture and climate change management and environmental conservation. Agriculture and Livestock development, water accessibility and provision, human capacity development and technological advancement were identified as key priority areas for partnerships.  

The meeting identified key areas of collaborations:

·       Joint research

·       Joint academic programmes

·       Joint conferences and seminars

·       Exchange programmes; Staff to staff and students to students

·       environmental management and conservation

The visitors from University of Maryland were elated by the Maasai Mara University compound tour including the Botanical Garden.

[beardedmrbean]

OUAGADOUGOU, Burkina Faso (AP) — A series of complex challenges, including a lack of funding and political will as well as rising insecurity linked to extremist groups al-Qaida and the Islamic State in Burkina Faso, are obstructing progress on Africa's Great Green Wall, according to experts involved in the initiative.

There have been some modest gains for the project, which plans to build an 8000-kilometer (4970-mile) long forest through 11 nations across the width of Africa to hold back the ever-growing Sahara Desert and fend off climate change impacts, but many involved with the plan are calling for renewed momentum to combat both insecurity and environmental decline.

Just 4 million hectares (9.9 million acres) of land has been afforested since work on the Green Wall began 15 years ago — a mere 4% of the program's ultimate goal.

Adama Doulkom, the coordinator for the Great Green Wall for the Sahara and the Sahel Initiative in Burkina Faso, said political instability and security issues are significantly stalling progress in nearly 4,000 villages across the country.

“Terrorist attacks in the affected regions have forced populations to disperse. This limits people’s movements, making it hard for us to directly monitor field actions which could lead to difficulty in creating improvements in certain areas,” Doulkom said.

In the last three years Burkinabe’s Sahel, north and east regions have become inaccessible. Much of the Sahelian region designated for the Green Wall is rife with security issues, with efforts in Sudan, Ethiopia, Mali, Chad, Niger and Nigeria all impacted.

The United Nation's desertification agency said the plan has several additional challenges to overcome, such as lukewarm high-level political support, weak organizational structures, insufficient coordination and financing, and not enough consideration in national environmental priorities.

The Great Green Wall featured prominently at the U.N. agency’s two-week summit in Abidjan in Ivory Coast, which wrapped up Friday. Desertification, which has severe impacts on food production and security, is exacerbated by climate change and agricultural activity.

First proposed in 2005, the program aims to plant a forest all the way from Senegal on the Atlantic Ocean in the west to Eritrea, Ethiopia and Djibouti in the east. It's hoped the initiative will create millions of green jobs in rural Africa, reduce levels of climate-related migration in the region and capture hundreds of millions of tons of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. Several countries have struggled to keep up with the demands of the project, with Mali, Nigeria, Djibouti and Mauritania in particular lagging behind.

The U.N. desertification agency says up to 45% of Africa’s land is impacted by desertification, making it more vulnerable than any other continent. The agency's director, Ibrahim Thiaw, believes that can have multiple negative effects on surrounding communities, including security concerns.

A report released Sunday by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute also noted the link between environmental degradation and conflict. “In the Sahel, social tensions combined with inadequate governance and environmental decline to produce a bigger security risk,” it said.

“By restoring land, you reduce conflicts and irregular migration. There is a link between land restoration and irregular migration,” said Ibrahim Thiaw. “Land restoration is a no-regrets option in that any effort to recover soil health, replenish natural capital and restore land health will deliver benefits that far exceed the costs.”

“What we are calling for now is action to accelerate the implementation of such a program to make sure that farmers, pastoralists, local communities and women are all associated with it," he added.

Despite a multitude of setbacks, those involved in the project remain optimistic. The coordinator of the Great Green Wall, Elvis Tangem, told the Associated Press that while conflict has slowed down the progress of the project, it has also opened up newer opportunities.

“It started as an environmental project but the dynamics of the region have made us look beyond the ecological aspects of the project and to embrace direct community concerns such as conflict resolution, peace building, youth development, women empowerment and rural development especially among pastoralists and farming communities,” he said.

Some progress has been made in recent years in the east of the continent, according the the program’s coordination office in Addis Ababa.

Eritrea, Ethiopia, and Sudan have all expanded their efforts, with Ethiopia producing 5.5 billion seedlings leading to thousands of hectares of restored land as well as an uptick in job creation. Efforts in Eritrea and Sudan have also resulted in nearly 140,000 hectares (346,000 acres) of afforestation.

Niger is also hailed for making considerable progress.

“In terms of measurable restoration milestones on the ground, Niger can be said to be far ahead of most of the countries with significant citizen awareness and contributing reforestation activities at all levels,” said Tabi Joda, a Great Green Wall ambassador. “More communities are embracing the initiative and taking the lead through their own community led solutions.”

Joda, who heads up youth mobilization for the project, noted that the scheme has seen strong governmental support in Senegal and Nigeria.

Between $36 and $43 billion are needed to realize the Green Wall by 2030, according to estimates by the World Resources Institute. The African Development Bank pledged approximately $6.5 billion for the wall by 2025 during the U.N.'s climate conference in November last year following an effort led by France in early 2021 which committed $14.5 billion towards the project, falling significantly short of the WRI's estimate.

The U.N. desertification agency says the current land restoration pace must be ramped up to an average of 8.2 million hectares (20 million acres) per year if the project is to achieve its self-imposed goal of 100 million hectares (247 million acres) restored by 2030.

“Investments must be intentional to deliver opportunities that create the right dose of green jobs needed by the critical mass of youths and communities vulnerable to irregular migration and violence due to competition over scarce resources caused by land degradation,” Tabi Joda said.

[thxnews]

Minister Sajjan Stands Firm in Support of Africa's Progression

  The Honourable Harjit S. Sajjan, Minister of International Development and Minister responsible for the Pacific Economic Development Agency of Canada concluded visits to Ethiopia, Egypt, and Chad. Arielle Kayabaga, Member of Parliament for London West, Ontario, accompanied the Minister on this visit. While there, they had discussions on the impacts of climate change, conflicts, and regional instability on food security and saw the positive impact that women have on food systems.  

Minister Harjit Sajjan at NATO in Belgium. Photo by Jim Mattis. Wikimedia.   Minister Sajjan also announced $140 million in funding for development projects in Africa and $39.8 million in humanitarian assistance funding for Sahel and Lake Chad Basin countries.  

Ethiopia

In Ethiopia, Minister Sajjan and MP Kayabaga met with Monique Nsanzabaganwa, Deputy Chairperson of the African Union Commission, to sign a letter of intent to establish a Canada-African Union Commission Development Policy Dialogue and discuss areas for collaboration. The Minister also met with representatives of the Government of Ethiopia to discuss progress on peace, recovery, and economic reform, convey expectations with regard to an inclusive and accountable approach to the delivery of aid, and engage with interlocutors about the situation in Sudan and its regional implications.   Harjit S. Sajjan, Minister of International Development and Minister responsible for the Pacific Economic Development Agency of Canada said: “Today’s confluence of crises has set back progress toward the UN Sustainable Development Goals across Africa and increased the vulnerability of the continent’s least-developed countries. Canada remains committed to working in partnership with key continental organizations, like the African Union Commission and the African Development Bank Group, to respond to these challenges and to support efforts to promote green and inclusive growth and resilience in Africa.”  

Egypt

In Egypt, Minister Sajjan attended the African Development Bank (AfDB) Group Annual Meetings where, in his role as an AfDB governor, he delivered Canada’s statement. In his address to the AfDB governors, the Minister reiterated the importance of partnerships and an inclusive dialogue to tackle global challenges such as climate change and to advance national development objectives. Minister Sajjan met with AfDB President Akinwumi Adesina to discuss shared priorities of climate action, food security, and gender equality.   Arielle Kayabaga, Member of Parliament for London West, Ontario said: “Our visit was an opportunity to strengthen Canada’s relations with African partners, including the African Union Commission and the African Development Bank Group." "We also met with government officials, organizations, and community members to share ideas, challenges, and opportunities to work together.”  

Chad

In Chad, Minister Sajjan met with Chad’s transitional president, Mahatmat Idriss Déby Itno, and other representatives of the Government to discuss the impact of the Sudanese crisis on Chad and regional stability. Minister Sajjan expressed his appreciation for Chad’s significant contributions to peacekeeping in Africa and he noted the need for an inclusive democratic process and respect for civil society and human rights. He also used the opportunity to discuss the need for an inclusive democratic process and a range of development issues, including the potential of climate-smart agriculture to build resilient and adaptable food production systems and help address the effects of climate change and improve food security in Africa. Minister Sajjan and MP Kayabaga also met with Canadian partners to learn about their ongoing humanitarian and development work in Chad, including how they are responding to the needs of local vulnerable communities that are welcoming an influx of refugees fleeing the crisis in Sudan. Minister Sajjan announced Canada’s new Sahel Regional Development Program, which complements existing bilateral, multilateral, and multi-country programming.   Sources: THX News & Global Affairs Canada. Read the full article

[breathingmotherearth]

Fig Tree

By Mike Shanahan

17 January 2017 BBC Earth

Over 2,000 years ago, an important tree had one of its branches removed on the order of Indian emperor Ashoka the Great. It was under this very tree that the Buddha is said to have attained enlightenment. Ashoka bestowed kingship on the branch, and planted it in a thick-rimmed solid gold vase.

He then took the branch over mountains and down the Ganges River to the Bay of Bengal. There, his daughter carried it aboard a ship and sailed for Sri Lanka to present it to the king. Ashoka loved the plant so much that he shed tears as he watched it leave.

This story, from the epic poem The Mahavamsa, is about a kind of fig tree scientists call Ficus Religiosa. True to its name, an unbroken line of devotion towards it stretches back to thousands of years before Ashoka's time.

But F. Religiosa is not alone. It is just one of more than 750 fig species. No other plants have held such sway over human imagination. They feature in every major religion and have influenced kings and queens, scientists and soldiers. They played roles in human evolution and the dawn of civilization. These trees have not only witnessed history; they have shaped it. If we play it right, they could even enrich our future.

Most flowering plants display their blooms for all to see, but the Ficus species hide them away inside their hollow figs. And while most plants bury their roots underground, the strangler figs and their kin show them off.

They can even smother and kill giant trees, growing into colossal forms.

Take Ashoka the Great's F. religiosa. Buddhists, Hindus and Jains have revered this species for more than two millennia. The same tree featured in battle hymns sung by the Vedic people 3,500 years ago. And, 1,500 years earlier, it appeared in the myths and art of the Indus Valley Civilization.

Elsewhere in Asia — indeed across the tropics and subtropics — cultures have adopted fig trees as symbols of power and places of prayer. These figs feature in creation stories, folklore and fertility rites. The champion is the Indian banyan (Ficus benghalensis), a tree so big it can resemble a small forest from afar.

Banyans grow so large because the roots they drop from their branches can merge into stout pillars as thick as English oak trees. These false trunks support the banyan's huge branches, enabling them to grow longer and send down even more roots.

One banyan in Uttar Pradesh is said to be immortal. Another in Gujarat is said to have grown from a twig used as a toothbrush. A third is believed to have sprung up where a woman threw herself onto her husband's burning funeral pyre and died. That tree, in Andhra Pradesh, can shelter 20,000 people.

The first Europeans to enjoy a banyan's shade were Alexander the Great and his soldiers, who arrived in India in 326 BCE. Their tales of this tree soon reached the Greek philosopher Theophrastus, the founder of modern botany. He had been studying the edible fig, Ficus Carica.

Each Ficus species has its own wasp pollinator.

Theophrastus had noticed tiny insects entering or emerging from figs. Their story would turn out to be one of the most astounding in all of biology. More than 2,000 years would pass before scientists realized that each Ficus species has its own wasp pollinator, while some even have two. Likewise, each fig-wasp species can only lay its eggs in the flowers of its partner figs.

This relationship began more than 80 million years ago and has shaped the world ever since. Ficus species must produce figs year-round to ensure their pollinator wasps survive. This is great news for fruit-eating animals that would otherwise struggle to find food for much of the year. Indeed, figs sustain more species of wildlife than any other kinds of fruit.

More than 1,200 species eat figs, including one-tenth of all the world's birds, nearly all known fruit-bats and dozens of species of primates, dispersing their seeds as they do so. Ecologists therefore call figs "keystone resources". Like the keystone of a bridge, if figs disappeared everything else could come crashing down.

Figs do not only nourish animals. The year-round presence of ripe figs would have helped sustain our early human ancestors.

High-energy figs may have helped our ancestors to develop bigger brains. There is also a theory that suggests our hands evolved as tools for assessing which figs are soft, and therefore sweet and rich in energy. While the first humans benefitted from fig biology, their descendants mastered it. Ficus species are among the first plants people domesticated, several thousand years ago.

Farmers even trained monkeys to climb trees and harvest them

The ancient Egyptians seized upon a species called Ficus Sycomorus, whose pollinator wasp was either locally extinct or had never arrived. By rights, this species should not have yielded a single ripe fig. But through a stroke of luck or genius, farmers worked out that they could trick the tree into ripening its figs by gashing them with a blade. Before long, the figs were a mainstay of Egyptian agriculture. Farmers even trained monkeys to climb trees and harvest them.

Egypt's fig trees fed both bellies and beliefs. The Pharaohs took dried figs to their graves in order to sustain their souls on their journey into the afterlife. They believed the mother goddess Hathor would emerge from a mythic fig tree to welcome them into heaven. 

To the north and east, the Egyptian fig's sweeter cousin, F. Carica, became an important food to several other ancient civilizations. The Sumerian King Urukagina wrote about them nearly 5,000 years ago. King Nebuchadnezzar II had them planted in the hanging gardens of Babylon. King Solomon of Israel praised them in song. The ancient Greeks and Romans said figs were heaven-sent. Their allure can perhaps be explained by another crucial point. Aside from being sweet and tasty, they are also packed with fibre,vitamins and minerals. These nutritional benefits have long been known. "Figs are restorative," wrote 1st-century Roman philosopher Pliny the Elder, "and the best food that can be taken by those who are brought low by long sickness."

A famous example of the healing power of figs appears in the Bible. Hezekiah, King of Judah, was "sick even to death" with a plague of boils but recovered after his servants applied a paste of crushed figs to his skin.

These chimps may have been self-medicating

The healing power of fig species is not limited to their fruit. Medicines developed over millennia by people throughout the tropics make use of their bark, leaves, roots and latex.

The use of fig trees as living medicine cabinets may even pre-date the origin of our species. Our closest living relatives, chimpanzees, also appear to turn to these trees for their curative powers, suggesting our common ancestor with them did too.

Researchers working in Uganda occasionally observed chimps eating unusual foods, such as the bark and leaves of wild fig trees. These chimps may have been self-medicating, the researchers concluded. And for good reason, tests show that compounds in the fig leaves and bark are effective against bacteria, parasites and tumours. 

Fig trees have not only helped civilizations and cultures rise. They have also watched them fall, and have even helped to hide their ruins. For instance, the great cities of the Indus Valley Civilization boomed between 3300 and 1500 BCE, but they were lost to history until 1827, when a deserter on the run from the East India Company called Charles Masson arrived there. The fig trees helped forests return and overwhelm the abandoned buildings Giant Strangler trees dominated the landscape. Ruins poked out of mysterious mounds. Local people told Masson they were relics of a society that collapsed after some divine intervention corrected the "lusts and crimes of the sovereign". In fact, it was a prolonged drought that brought down the Indus Valley Civilization Strangler figs also replaced drought-stricken people at the Mayan pyramids at Tikal in Guatemala, and the Khmer temples of Angkor Wat in Cambodia. In each case, the fig trees helped forests return and overwhelm the abandoned buildings.

 Their seeds germinated in cracks in the stonework. Their roots ripped masonry apart and crushed walls with their weight. Their figs attracted animals that in turn dispersed seeds of dozens of other tree species. And so, the forest reclaimed these sites. This power has also been observed on volcanoes like Krakatoa, whose 1883 eruption purged the island of all life. Fig trees that recolonized the bare lava were instrumental in encouraging forest to form anew. Across the tropics scientists are now replicating this effect, planting fig trees to accelerate rainforest regeneration in areas where trees have been lost due to logging. All this means fig trees can provide hope for a future with a changing climate.

Fig trees could also help us adapt to extreme conditions.

In north-east India, people encourage fig roots to cross rivers, enlace and thicken to form robust bridges, saving lives in monsoon rains. In Ethiopia, fig trees are helping farmers adapt to drought by providing vital shade to crops and fodder to goats. These two approaches can also be applied elsewhere.

In all, fig trees can help us limit climate change, protect biodiversity and improve livelihoods, as long as we continue to plant and protect these trees, as humankind has done for millennia.

Many cultures around the world developed taboos against felling fig trees. Unfortunately today, these beliefs are fading from memory. We would do well to revive them.

Their long history serves as a reminder that we are the ones who are recent arrivals on an Earth in an 80-million-year-long Age of Ficus. Our future will be more secure if we put these trees in our plans.

Mike Shanahan is a freelance writer with a doctorate in rainforest ecology. His new book about fig trees is out now (published in the UK as Ladders to Heaven and in North America as Gods, Wasps and Stranglers).

[libertariantaoist]

News Roundup 11/12/20

by Kyle Anzalone

US News

Axios reports Trump will bring on Col. Douglas Macgregor as a senior Pentagon adviser. [Link]

Trump’s changes to Pentagon staff could be a part of his effort to withdraw US troops from bases around the world. [Link]

Biden announced a 23 member Pentagon landing team. DC think tanks are well represented. [Link]

Dave DeCamp explains how Biden’s Pentagon team has major ties to weapons makers. [Link]

Congress is including sanctions on the Nord Stream 2 Pipeline in the NDAA bill. [Link]

Asia

Biden called the leaders to Japan, South Korea, and Australia to reassure the countries of American security assistance and commit to tackling climate change. [Link]

China is looking to expand the role of its Coast Guard to enforce Chinese territorial claims in the South China Sea. [Link]

The Philippines will extend the visiting forces agreement with the US to allow American soldiers in the Philippines. [Link]

Armenians are calling for the prime minister to step down after he signed a ceasefire agreement with the Azeris. [Link]

Intra-Afghan peace talks are struggling and may fall apart. [Link]

Middle East

Iraq is beginning to close camps for people displaced by the fight against ISIS. [Link]

The UN Food Chief says Yemen is on the countdown to catastrophe. [Link]

Africa

Ceasefire talks in Libya led to an agreement to hold elections in 18 months. [Link]

Ethiopia’s Prime Minister reports the country’s military defeated separatists in the Tigray region. Hundreds were killed by the airstrikes. [Link]

Read More